Potential Signs & Symptoms of Reduced Visual Skills
The list below is not exhaustive. Reduced visual skills may also cause symptoms not included on this list.
- Headaches
- Eye strain
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Fatigue when reading
- Dizziness or nausea
- Burning, itchy, watery eyes
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Light sensitivity
- Squinting or excessive blinking
- Eye turn (in or out)
- Head tilt/one eye closed to read
- Focus blurs in and out
- Struggle changing focus (ex. far-near)
- Poor attention/concentration
- Words move or run together
- Sees worse at the end of day
- Holds things very close
- Avoids reading/near activities
- Reads slowly
- Poor reading comprehension
- Prefers being read to vs. on own
- Loses place when reading
- Skips or repeats words/lines
- Uses finger to keep place
- Moves head when reading
- Difficulty copying (ex. from board)
- Poor memory for what was just seen
- Confuses letters/words
- Poor word recognition
- Vocalizes during silent reading
- Responds better orally vs. in writing
- Poor handwriting
- Writes neatly but slowly
- Writes uphill/downhill
- Letter/number/word reversals
- Confuses left and right
- Poor spelling
- Poor balance & coordination
- Poor depth perception
- Poor sports performance
- Poor spatial awareness
- Clumsy, poor body awareness
- Motion sickness
- Poor time use/management
Individuals with reduced visual skills can have any combination of these symptoms, some of which may not seem obviously related to vision. Seeing your optometrist for regular eye exams can help identify problems that may be related to reduced visual skills. Based on symptoms and eye exam findings, your optometrist may refer you for a visual skills assessment.
